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COEffilGHT DEPOSm 



MUSIC 

AND 

MEMORY 

and Other Poems 
HELEN E.WIEAND - 




BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



COPTKIGHT, 1919, BY HeLEN E. WlEAND 



All Rights Reserved 



Made in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U.S.A. 
©CI.A525665 

m 26 isiy 



TO 

MY MOTHER 

WHOSE LIFE IS NOW A MEMORY 

WITHIN MY HEART, WHOSE 

LOVE IS MUSIC 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Music 9 

The Spell of Music lo 

The Master Plays ii 

Memory ii 

Loneliness 12 

My Beloved is Near 13 

" NUR WER DIE SeHNSUCHT KENNT " . . I4 

"The Guardian Angel" 15 

The Empty House 15 

Separation 16 

The Artist 16 

The End of the Day 17 

The Great War 

I Tragedy 18 

II Hope 19 

in The End 20 

" The White Comrade " 21 

The Angel of Peace 22 

To the Poet on Reading His Book . . 24 
The Gardener Sings 

I Love's Search 25 

II Love's Response 26 



Contents 

PAGE 

III Love's Self-Denial .... 27 

IV Love's Art 28 

V Love's Song 28 

VI Love's Faithfulness .... 29 

VII Love's Dream 30 

VIII Love's Farewell 31 

IX Love's " Good-Night "... 32 

To A. R. Singing 33 

A Birthday Sonnet 34 

Beauty • • 35 

Night-Scene 36 

Luna 37 

Night at Sea 38 

The Tree 39 

Autumn 40 

Winter-Gray 41 

Lullaby 42 

The Ride 43 

The Hindu Singer 44 

Hindu Lament 45 

Waiting 46 

Unfinished Thoughts 47 

Sounds 48 

The Path of the Storm 50 

The Storm Winds 51 

The Viking-Maid 52 



Contents 

PAGE 

Spring Rain 53 

The Song 53 

Chanson 54 

De Amicitia 

I Laelius Speaks 55 

II Friendship 56 

III The Search 56 

The Greatest of These 58 

Even-Song 58 

The Vision 59 

Inspiration 6p 

Duty 61 

The Citadel 62 

Worship 63 

The Poet's Apology 64 



MUSIC 

Ah, Music, it were well 
That once again you weave your magic spell 
About me, for the days had been too sad 

To be made glad 

By such as you ! 
Yea, the daughters of Music had been brought so 
low; 

The depths of woe 
Yawned bleak before me and I could not bear 
The sound of joy. 'Twere well now just to share 
Your sombre notes, your aching, longing cry. 
To make my yearning heart at last reply 
And say, " 'Tis well." Though she be gone away 
She would not have me mourn for her alway. 
But she would have me gather in my hands 

The gay and happy strands 
Which made her life so full, and carry on 
Her work that none of it be left undone. 
And with those threads of work and love and joy 
Is mingled yours, sweet Music, to employ 
My time within the waiting days to be 
With love and work and joy and melody. 
So, Music, weave again your magic spell 
Until I answer clearly, "It is well!" 



Music and Memo7-y 



THE SPELL OF MUSIC 

Ah! woo my heart, my thoughts, away. 

Music so sweet and sad! 
Dark is my mood and ever the day 
All of one cold and wistful gray; 

Music, sing sweet, sing glad! 

One of my long, long thoughts is pain; 

Music, sing it to peace ! 
One is the sorrow that all in vain 
Mourns for the past to return again ; 

Music, sing it surcease! 

One is regret for things undone; 

Music, make me forget! 
And oh, the victories I had won 
Had I but curbed the angry tone! 

Music, sing sweeter yet! 

Sing me release from weariness; 

Music, sing soft and low! 
And oh, the dark, cold dreariness 
Of love denied that had come to bless! 

Sing to dispel that woe. 

Sing till the gray turns silver bright; 

Music, weave now your spell! 
Banish the pain and the wrong make right ; 
Sing till my heart both day and night 

Makes answer, " Yea — all is well." 



lO 



Music and Memory 



THE MASTER PLAYS 

The master touched the strings and music poured 
Like cooling streams upon my fevered brain 
To soothe the longing and the weary strain 

By each deep, thrilling, soulful, minor chord ; 

Grief spoke through all the yearning music stored 
Within the throbbing instrument again, — 
But grief ennobled, purified of pain, 

At peace, with all life's plans in sweet accord. 

As master and the instrument so blend, 
Each complementing each, a perfect one. 

So grief is but the instrument to lend 

To love's all-mastering touch to play upon. 

And oh, my heart, be still, be calm, be blest ! 

The song is theirs who from their labors rest. 

MEMORY 

Between this world and that far unkown land 
Where you are now there lies a vast gray sea. 
Unspanned save by the bridge of memory; 

And there with those gone thitherward you stand. 

Invisible, with eager outstretched hand, 

Yearning to reach, to speak, to come to me, 
Just as of yore, with loving sympathy. 

Ready to meet my uttermost demand. 

How do I know? Ah! through the silent gray 
Of twilight, as I sat here all alone, 

I felt your hand upon my head today; 
I heard the silver-cadenced undertone 
II 



Music and Memory 



Of your voice calling, as of old, and knew 

That my heart's call had pierced the mists to you. 



LONELINESS 



I never knew, till I had lost you, 

Loneliness. 

I never dreamed how brightly gleamed 

Love's happiness. 

Till shadows fell. Misunderstandings? Well! 

'Twould be no less 

Than I should bear, so having failed you, dear, — 

Heart-weariness. 

We never know, — alas ! that it is so ! — 

Nor clear discern 

Love's perfect worth, how fair it makes the earth, 

Until some turn 

Of bitter fate reveals it; then, too late, 

Our sad hearts yearn 

In weariness, in aching dreariness. 

For love's return. 

II 

Deep silence filled with the half-voiced sounds 

Of a house alone in the night. 
And I try to read, to still the beat 

Of my heart-voice raised in fright. 

The clock ticks on, but its voice sounds sad, 
As if lonely too like me, 

12 



Music and Memory 



As if waiting for your voice to sound, 
To make our voices three. 

Your chair creaks sudden and I start up, 
All unnerved by the loneliness, 

And I pray to God, as I try to sleep, 
All lonely hearts to bless. 



MY BELOVED IS NEAR 
Translation from Goethe 

I think of you when golden sunlight shimmers 

Upon the sea; 
I think of you when moonlight softly glimmers 

Across the lea. 

I see you when on far-off mountain-ridges 

The dry dusts rise ; 
In darkness drear, when o'er uncertain bridges 

My journey lies. 

I hear you when the rolling storm-sea surges 

With troubled moan; 
Or when in quiet groves my mood swift urges 

Me far to roam. 

I am with you and though you're far away 

Still you are near; 
The sun sets, soon the stars will close the day; 

Would you were here! 
13 



Music and Memory 



"NUR WER DIE SEHNSUCHT KENNT " 

The waiting ended ; — and for you the peace, 

The great release 
From all the weariness and all the pain ; 
But oh ! for me such longing as were fain 
To tear my heart in twain. 

For you 'tis ended, but for me still waiting. 

Anticipating 
Some call from you, some little loving word 
As those you spake when here ; and something stirred 
To make me dream I heard. 

How can I bear the severance? None can say 

Nor soothe away 
The aching pain, the longing but to know 
That you still linger very near to show 
Your love for us in woe. 

Only the spirits of the blest who yearn 

Can clear discern 
The longing of the hearts torn sad like mine 
And with a healing touch almost divine 
Can soothe away the sorrow and the pain, 
Not by the wish to dwell on earth again 
But with the full assurance that in time 

The great sublime 
Transition will be consummated too 
For us who still are waiting. Just a few, 
A very few more days to bear the woe, 

The longing here below; 
Then I shall be with you again, my dear. 
My Dear! 

14 



Music and Memory 



THE GUARDIAN ANGEL 

As she from that far shore looks hitherward, 
And sees the gray dark ocean thou must cross, 

Her loving care, feel sure, will ever guard 

And keep thy fragile bark from wreck or loss. 

Feel sure her intercession will but gain 
A journey safe for thee, till side by side 

Ye stand, forgetting all the bitter pain 
And grief of years apart, — full-satisfied. 



THE EMPTY HOUSE 

Are these long days since they have gone away 

To you all-purposeless, all-weary, gray? 

Or are they days of happy memory 

Wherein you seem to hear again and see 

Those loved ones whom you sheltered glad, of yore? 

None enter now through your once welcoming 

door ; 
Closed all the windows, once so widely spread; 
Cold all the hearth-stones, all the fires are dead. 
Robbed of your joy you stand there heavy-hearted, 
Waiting — but nevermore will those departed 
Throw open wide again your doors. Alone — 
Waiting — but those you sheltered all are gone. 



15 



Music and Memory 



SEPARATION 

You never dreamed, ah! never could have dreamed 
That all these days such loneliness could steal 
Over my heart, all else to make unreal. 

Mere phantoms of a w^orld that once had seemed 

A place where golden sunshine brightly streamed 
From cloudless skies of happiness. Appeal 
To you I cannot. Wherefore thus reveal 

Such desolation that I once had deemed 

Possible only in the depths of woe? 

Wherefore should I such torture undergo? 

Only to suit your pleasure? Nay, I will 

Now and forever claim my freedom, till 

Steadfast and strong my soul may sternly say 

Farewell to you and sadly go its way. 

THE ARTIST 

Just to create and though it be but small. 

One song, one picture, or one poem meet 
To speak in new-found words the urgent call 

My heart speaks, deep, sincere. Just to complete 
By one small gift the world's created store 

Of knowledge or of sweetness or of pain. 
Aye, even pain, so that one gift the more 

Some other mind may make to soothe the strain. 

Need not to ask what gift there is in me, 

What tool the Master-workman has bestowed 

Fit for the task; for all-impellingly 

Stirs in my heart and soul the urgent goad, 

Zestful and eager something to create. 

And at the end His word, " Well-done! " await. 
i6 



Music and Memory 



THE END OF THE DAY 

Each task completed, now the time for thoughts, 

For brief regret 

That the day which dawned so golden 

Has failed ; — or was it we who failed 

To keep and hold 

That golden freshness of the morn ? 

To pour into each task its magic zest, 

To turn our work — God's gift for happiness — 

No curse of Kismet — 

Into a great achievement ? 

Thoughts 

Of all the happiness we might have given, 

A smile, a friendly word, a kiss. 

To make the day more sweet. 

Only a restless striving, 

A weak endeavor; 

And now at the end of the day 

Thoughts. 

The purple gray of the after-sunset, 

The regret for the left-undone. 

The sorrow for the base, the weakly-done; 

But one bright golden gleam 

Of sunlight — hope 

That God who seeth all and knoweth all 

May gather these our thoughts up with our deeds. 

Balance them in His perfect scale and find 

One golden grain for which to bless us, 

At the end of the day. 



17 



Music and Memory 



THE GREAT WAR 

I. Tragedy. 
11. Hope. 
HI. The End. 



TRAGEDY 

Oh, tragedy! oh, curse of all the years! 

The women all the women, 
Mid dangers, hates and fears, 

Cursing even God's heaven 
That heedeth not their tears. — 
The tragedy of years. 

Oh, tragedy! oh, anguish of the years! 

Children in all their weakness, 
Not understanding tears, 

Bewildered by death and bleakness, 
Calling, — and no one hears. — 
The anguish of the years. 

Oh. tragedy ! oh, sorrow of the years ! 

The wounded and the dying. 
And oh! the heedless ears 

Of the dead, uncared-for lying! 
Oh, sight for angels' tears! 
The sorrow of the years. 



i8 



Music and Memory 



II 

HOPE 

Behind this scourging war and all the grim 

Sad desolation of a smiling land, 
Can eyes of faith see that which now is dim 

And blurred, some right all clearly, justly 
planned ? 
Can eyes of hope see waving fields of grain 

Where now are mounds piled high, concealing 
death ? 
Can hearts of love e'er rise and love again 

Those whom in hate they cursed, with cannons' 
breath ? 

Not His the plan ; 'tis men who went astray 

And spread this horror, lusting fierce with hate; 

Perchance to grope through blindness to the way 
Of mercy, truth and justice, though so late. 

O God of all. Thine own plan now reveal, 
All war to end, jail bitter strife to heal. 



19 



Music and Memory 



in 

THE END 

After the din of war 

Has died away, 

At close of day 
Lo! shines the evening-star. 

After the bloody strife 
Has come to end, 
The heart of a friend 

Keep for the rest of life. 

After the fearful dream 

Is quite forgot, 

'Twill be our lot 
Really to live, not seem. 



20 



Music and Memory 



" THE WHITE COMRADE " 

" By what vision led go ye forth? 

Not a poet's dreams 
Had such power to lure you on to die. 

What then? Ah! Meseems 
'Tis some awful message from on high. 
By what vision led go ye forth? " 

" In the ranks today, by our side, 

On to battle led, 
A new comrade strode; in his hand 

Was a wound blood-red. 
But he dared to march, dared to stand 
In the ranks today, by our side." 

" * Wounded, friend ? ' we asked. Sad he smiled. 

' Yea, but 'tis not new. 
Once a Roman nail pierced me there; 

But it bleeds anew.' 
Thrilled we heard, then rushed forth to dare. 
Lest again that hand be defiled." 

" By that sign we go forth to die ; 

By that Holy Cross; 
Strengthened by that brave Comrade near, 

Neither death nor loss 
Nor defeat can cause us to fear. 
God has sent His vision from on high." 



21 



Music and Memory 



THE ANGEL OF PEACE 

Aloft through the gray lowering sky 

Shalt thou soar, shalt thou fly; 

For the wings of thy spirit are spreading, all eager 

to go ; 
All eager to speed through the air 
Thy buoyant message to bear 
To the hearts that are drooping in sorrow, in 

anguish and woe. 



Oh, the wings of thy spirit are swift, 

All-puissant to lift 

And to bear thee sure, glad, on thy songful, tri- 
umphant, far quest; 

Thy one wing is faith, and glad joy 

Is the other, prepared to convoy 

Thee swift as thou goest to answer and heed the 
behest ! 



Ah, haste, then, glad Spirit, full speed 

To the sorrowing world in its need ; 

For 'tis faith that the world needs, 'tis joy, and 

most is it love; 
And ah ! thy glad message far fling it. 
Through all the wide heavens loud sing it, 
Till all hearts receiving endeavor its dictates to 

prove. 



22 



Music and Memory 



Oh, speed thee, glad Spirit, all haste! 

Not one moment to waste; 

Today is alone thine to use and to claim for thy 

will; 
Like flame of a wind-fanned fire 
Rise higher, gladly, and higher; 
And speak through the wind or the storm, or the 

voice small and still. 



Speak low or triumphantly speak, 

Winged words swift to seek 

The hearts that need most the glad message thou 

speedest to bring; 
And oh, may the world far and near 
Be eager and ready to hear! 
For thou art His messenger. Peace, with commands 

from the King. 



With a sword that is flashing, keen, bright. 

Edged with truth and with right. 

Thou art sent to proclaim His decree that cruel 

wars shall cease; 
And Justice with Mercy shall blend 
Till, wars at an end, 
All declare Him the King of the world, the great 

Prince of Peace. 



23 



Music and Memory 



TO THE POET ON READING HIS 
BOOK 

As is the flickering light of candle-flame 

Compared with the sure radiance of a star; 

Or as the feeble note of trumpet, far 
Outechoed by the thunder; aye, the same, 
My little songs before thine suffer shame 

That they should dare to sound their notes, 
v^hich are 

Like jangling notes rung out of tune, to mar 
The music of the words that bear thy name. 

Abashed I stand before thee, in dismay, 
Thou prince of poets, wordless to express 

The reverence and honor I would pay 
To thy fair Muse's burning loveliness. 

The thoughts my heart would speak I cannot say, 
Save this : — I would not have one poem less. 



24 



Music and Memory 



THE GARDENER SINGS 
After Rabindranath Tagore 



I. 


Love's Search. 


II. 


Love's Response. 


III. 


Love's Self-denial. 


IV. 


Love's Art. 


V. 


Love's Song. 


VI. 


Love's Faithfulness. 


VII. 


Love's Dream. 


VIII. 


Love's Farewell. 


IX. 


Love's " Good-night." 




I 

love's search 



On many a quest you hastened to seek and oh ! to find 
The heart of her the fairest, the voice with sweet 

words kind, 
The lips with kisses waiting, the eyes with love- 
tears blind. 

"Where is she?" all your question, "where waits 

she now for me? 
" For that she does I know full well and waits all 

eagerly, 
** Till I shall come to greet her and break her 

revery." 



25 



Music and Memory 



But ah! you did not mark me, nor see my weary 

strain, 
Though my lips flushed red with welcome and bitter 

tears like rain 
Poured down my cheeks that waited your greeting 

kiss in vain. 

Alas! I dared not tell you, though eager your first 

cry,_ 
When tired after searching you rode me quickly 

by,- 
My beauty yours for claiming, — that she, dear one, 

is I. 



LOVE S RESPONSE 

You know my step, dear one, and that right well ; 
For as I came I saw the sweet blush swell 
And rise up to your brow the tale to tell. 

And why not? when it echoes but the beat 

Of your heart's rhythm, slow or passion-fleet. 

Swift but to reach you, slow but to retreat. 

You know my voice; and why not? when its tone 
Finds but its key-note in your very own; 
Answers in harmony to yours alone. 

You know my thoughts ere ever I may speak. 
Why not ? when like stray birds they turn to seek 
In your dark eyes the nests they left last week. 
26 



Music and Memory 



III 
love's self-denial 

'Tis deep, deep words my loving heart would say, 

But since it dare not. 
With bitter jest I scatter them for ay. 
And turn from you with laughing lips away, 

That you may share not 
Nor see the pain embittering my day. 

To speak true words to you my heart would fain. 

But does not dare; 
Endure it could not all the ache and pain 
Your unbelief would pour on it like rain ; 

And so I swear 
That truth is untruth, real is false and vain. 

All-silent by you all-content to sit 

My heart would be ; 
But ah ! it dare not ; for in silence it 
Would utter all the thoughts it deems most fit; 

So purposely 
I chatter lightly for its benefit. 

I'd flee from you, but yet I dare not so ; 

For cowardice 
Would brand itself upon me if I go 
And you your power over me would know ; 

So better 'tis 
To stay and bear your sweetness and my woe. 

27 



Music and Memory 
IV 

love's art 

You never say the word you would — 

Ah! tell me why! 
Is it to blind me if you could, 

Lest haply I 
Should read your heart? 
I know, I know your art. 

You never walk the path you would 

Lest I should prize 
Some other just as you, so you elude 

My seeking eyes 
And hide yourself apart. 
I know, I know your art. 

You never will take what you could. 

But more you'd claim; 
And so my gifts aside are strewed ; 

I do not blame. 
Your silence shows your heart. 
I know, I know your art. 

V 

love's song 

Our merely loving, oh, so simple sweet! 

As simple as a song 

That flows along 
In melody so quaint, yet so complete 

That surely all must know 

Its tuneful flow. 

28 



Music and Memory 



No mystery therein, nor any pain; 

Nor cause for fear or fret, 

But freedom from regret 
That strives not to recall the past again, 

But living in today 

Finds joy alway. 
No shadow there to dim the perfect charm, 

But deep and full content 

With rapture blent, 
And perfect confidence that nought can harm; 

That none can ever mar 

Such joys as are 
In our sweet love, our love so like a song. 



VI 

love's faithfulness 

When Paris dreamed of Helen 
By far Scamander's side, 

I, too, dreamed in my tent. 

Near that stream's flowing tide; 

Nor were my dreams of conquest, 
But of your love denied. 

Beneath the starry heavens 
In Gaul with Csesar's host, 

I pitched my tent for conquest; 
But ah ! my dreams were most 

Of you in Rome uncaring. 
And of your love long-lost. 

29 



Music and Memory 



Of knights the very humblest 
In Arthur's train I went, 

For love of you and chivalry 
On many a tourney bent; 

But you — ^ you passed unheeding 
My heart's supreme intent. 

Through ages I have wooed you, 
Through ages been denied; 

In Rome, in Troy, in England, 
My heart has sought your side; 

And yet today you mock me 
Just as of old in pride. 

Mayhap in some dim future 
Again we two may meet; 

Mayhap some power within me 
Will rise to action fleet 

To woo and ah! to win you. 
Till then I'll hope on, sweet. 



VII 

love's dream 

Dear heart, I dream of you 

The whole night through; 
In endless dreams you pass my garden by, 
The garden of my heart, that here doth He 

Waiting but for your coming. 

Like swift birds homing ; — 
And yet you come not in my lonesome dream. 
30 



Music and Memory 



But when the last day finds my garden dust; 
When all that ever grew therein needs must 

Die and depart 

From that garden of my heart: 
Still all my dreams will deathless be of you, 
God's ages through ; 
Then pray that you may come in that last dream ! 



VIII 

love's farewell 

If you would have it so, 

I will end my singing; 
If you bid me, I will go, 

Since your heart, up-springing. 
Bids you answer my call low, 

And you'd fain be winging 
Your far flight away, — since, lo ! - 

You care not for my singing. 



If it trouble you, my dear. 

In your flower-weaving. 
Just my passing step to hear. 

Though 'tis past believing, 
I will pass no longer here, 

Go my way with grieving ; — 
But, — and let me say it clear — 

Would I were not leaving! 



31 



Music and Memory 



If it makes your heart throb wild, 

At the sound of my oar's beating, 
To your whim quite reconciled, 

Even gay, retreating, 
I will row by yon bank, child, 

Nor cast one glance, swift-fleeting 
Would that you might be beguiled 

To wave me one last greeting. 



IX 
love's " GOOD-NIGHT " 

The last song sung, love, let us say, " Good night " ; 
Forget the pain, when dawn has put to flight 
The dreams we strive in vain to clasp and keep. — 
Good night, dear heart, so sleep! 

The last word spoken, love, our day is o'er; 
All emptiness where bliss had been before ; 
And in my heart a throbbing pain and deep. — 
Good night, dear heart, so sleep ! 

But when the last long sleep of death draws nigh, 
And all life's little dreams have drifted by; 
Glad in the dawn of that immortal light 
No more we'll say, " Good night." 



32 



Music and Memory 



TO A. R. SINGING 

Ah! sing again that song! Its cadence sweet, 
Its melody in ling'ring pathos true, 
Brings back such visions as you seem to view 

While from your lips each note falls. Ah! repeat 

" The songs my mother taught me." All-complete 
The memory, as each note pulses through 
My own heart's longing swift to answer you 

And thrill in turn to each note's pulsing beat. 

The other songs you sang, some sad, some gay. 
Struck other chords within my waiting heart. 

As glad and buoyant as the " Love in May " ; 
But none will ever stand supreme, apart. 

As that; and in my dreams tonight I'll hear 

That melody and your voice soaring clear. 



33 



Music and Memory 



A BIRTHDAY SONNET 
To Mrs. H. G. T. 

The dearest title I can give to you, 

As this page comes my greetings glad to bear, 

Is friend, and I would wish you a full share 
Of joy and happiness the whole year through; 
Not sweets I send as other friends may do, 

Nor messages with fragrant roses rare; 

And my poor greeting I can hardly dare 
To match with theirs, although my love is true. 

But still I dare, for nought else can I give. 
Since all the giving is from you to me ; 

I only hope that I may worthy live 

Of all your friendly kindness given free; 

Each little, nameless, unremembered thought 

Which to my life such happiness has brought. 



34 



Music and Memory 



BEAUTY 

A wistful loneliness that beauty stirred 
Within my heart, the glow of evening sky 
That bloomed so fair and yet so swift to die, 

As the sad gray of night-time dimly blurred 

All the far landscape; and I faintly heard. 

Or dreamed I heard, your half unconscious sigh 
That beauty such as this should pass you by 

And your heart fail to speak some fitting word. 

Beauty of sight, of sound, brings tears unless 
Shared with another; hearts needs must express 
Some of the painful throb and pulsing beat 
Stirred by the spell, and speaking make complete 
All the glad harmony, the mystic bond 
That binds our hearts to the Great Source beyond. 



35 



Music and Memory 



NIGHT-SCENE 

Against the sky gray branches as a frame 

For the unfading fire of one bright perfect star, 
And all the sky a-silver with the far 

All-heaven-encircling moonlight ; — a mere name 

Is beauty, when compared with this; a shame 
Even to seek to find such words as are 
Worthy to tell the glory ; words but mar 

Beauty in telling; silence here has claim. 

Silence but filled with thoughts that throng within, 
Aye, deep within our hearts, whene'er we see 

Sut:h splendor in the sky ; or when the din 
Of ocean-surge beats deep in harmony. 

His handiwork the heavens then declare; 

And oh ! the glory of the Lord is there. 



36 



Music and Memory 



LUNA 

Shining through a luminous white cloud shaped 
like an eagle with outstretched wings, the moon, 
and one bright star above. 

One moment only didst thou shine thus fair, 
O'ershadowed by a gleaming eagle bright, 
Whose outstretched wings of misty clouds so 
white 

Dimmed but one moment thine own brightness 
rare; 

And over thee, fair Luna, steadfast there 
Shining with clear, unfading, silver light. 
One star alone, of all the stars of night 

That could its brightness with thine own compare. 

One moment, and Jove's minister had sped 
Away, perchance, to greet the morning sun; 
Never a cloud to dim thy radiance clear ; — 
Never a star bright-shining, save o'erhead. 

Where steadfast still was seen that fulgent one. 
Heralding thee night's queen without a peer. 



37 



Music and Memory 



NIGHT AT SEA 

Eight bells! To bed, to rest! 
While clear and peaceful in the west 
The evening star that shines on home 
Is shining on us, as we roam. 

Good night, sweet star, and may the peace 
Of star-light fill our dreams no less 
Here on the sea than when at home, 
Star shining on us as we roam. 



38 



Music and Memory 



THE TREE 

Your golden leaves lie scattered at my feet; 

Against the sky 
All bare and stark your straining branches toss, 

As if on high 
You'd raise your cry of anguish at your loss; 

Mere mortal I 
To share your sorrow am, alas ! not meet. 

And yet it was no loss, a gift instead 

Of precious gold. 
For Mother Earth a wondrous coverlet 

Lest winter's cold 
Should touch her with its blighting chill and wet; 

So fold on fold 
With golden leaves you strewed her sun-warmed 
bed. 

All that you had you gave. Oh, noble tree! 

Have I the right 
To make of it a flaming incense-fire 

For my delight? 
Or for the serving of some mad desire 

To set alight 
That golden store and burn it recklessly? 

And yet a child of Earth, I claim it mine 

To use at will. 
As children of the Earth, both you and I, 

We must fulfil 
Our fate-appointed task and destiny, 

Each year, until 
You crumble to the earth ; I soar divine. 
39 



Music and Memory 



AUTUMN 

Of old I sang the songs that youth sings best, 
The songs of love, of joy, of gladsome spring; 
But now a different music would I sing, 

Though not less sweet, less full of tuneful zest; 

I'd sing the glowing, sunlight-tinted west. 
The mellowing season, birds upon the wing 
Migrating southward, and the fields that bring 

Their yellow wealth earth's bounty to attest. 

Oh! that I had the artist's brush to paint 
The gold and scarlet, bronze and green array 

In which the trees, now marshalled forth, acquaint 
The world that Autumn passes on her way. 

With regal splendor and in solemn state. 

Queen of the earth on whom the months all wait. 



40 



Music and Memory 



WINTER-GRAY 

All gray the day and sunless, and my mood 

All gray and joyless, cold. 
Why is ft that the stillness of the wood 

Doth also me enfold? 
The icy chill of snow-clad, sighing trees 

Strikes deep within my heart; 
And every little, rustling, quiv'ring breeze 

Seems as it were a part 
Of some sad moan that Winter fain would make 

To tell me of her woe. 
To weave her spell that I for her dear sake 

Might deeply, truly know 
And tell it clearly to the world again; 

And so all sombre gray 
She wove for me instead this mood of pain 

To bear her own away. 

All gray the day and sunless, but my mood 

Will gladder grow full-soon; 
For in the quiet of the winter wood 

A bird sang clear at noon. 



41 



Music and Memory 



LULLABY 

Dost know, little one, dost know, 
That over the stars the angels play 
In a mystic dance, now slow, now gay, 
Keeping watch the while over us below ? 

Dost know, little one, dost know ? 

Hast heard, little one, hast heard 
The song of the angels fair and bright, 
As they hover above us through the night, 
The song that the Bethlehem shepherds stirred? 

Hast heard, little one, hast heard ? 

I know, little one, I know; 
For angels bright through my dreams once strayed, 
While in starry meadows they lightly played, 
And my heart was healed of its wakeful woe. 

I know, little one, I know. 

Then rest, little one, then rest ; 
For angel-guardians still will keep 
Their watch above us, while wrapped in sleep, 
God's messengers so glad and blest. 

Then rest, little one, then rest. 



42 



Music and Memory 



THE RIDE 

Rush along, — swift, — sure. 

Mile after mile in the star-lit night; 
Oh, the sweet allure 

Of the mile ahead, in our swift-run flight! 
But more secure 

At the journey's end the dear home-light.^ — ■ 

Mile after mile in the night. 

See the stars how bright! 

Mile after mile by the side of my love; 
But the clear star-light 

Shining steadily on in the skies above 
Sees no sweet delight 

More fair than the home of my treasure-trove. — 

Mile after mile with my love. 

And the homes we see, — 

Mile after mile as we go on our way. 
Love's loyalty be 

The light that shines in them there for ay. 
None so fair for me 

As the dear home that waits at the end of the day. 

Mile after mile ends our way. 



43 



Music and Memory 



THE HINDU SINGER 

Tense silence as the strange half-minor notes 

Plaintively sing; 

The dream-filled smell of incense; 

Bright carmine of the poinsettias and the green 

Of velvet curtains round about her; 

Brilliant the light straight falling 

Upon her jewelled fingers 

And upon the lute 

With fretted strings of gold, — 

The lute quivering with those half-sounds 

Like hearts in pain, 

Like hearts in memory crooning 

Over the days — long-gone — of love, of joy, 

But most of all, of sorrow. 

And above it all 

The piercing, calling wail 

Of her voice singing — 

Singing or dreaming — which? 

And oh! the song! 



44 



Music and Memory 



HINDU LAMENT 

The jasmine blooms in my courtyard, 

For spring is here ; 
But my heart for thy love is lamenting, 
And sad and drear 
I wait for some message from thee; 
None comes to me. 

The scent of the jasmine blossoms 

Perfumes the air; 
But my heart's sweet fragrance is wasted ; 
I do not care 
To smell of the sweetness alone, 
Now thou art gone. 

The rain on the jasmine blossoms 

Shines bright and clear; 
Like rain on thy head I'd be, 
My Rajah dear; 
Or a cloud to hover above thee; 
So do I love thee. 



45 



Music and Memory 



WAITING 

The sun shines straight across the plain, 

As it sinks in the splendid west; 
My thoughts fly true to your heart, Elaine, 
As I go to rest. 

For the sun, I know, 

With its golden glow, 
Gives promise of day again. 

But ah! for me 

What the morrow may be 
I cannot tell, Elaine. 

The stream flows on to the ocean deep. 

And it sings a happy strain; 
For it knows full well that rest and sleep 

'Twill find therein, Elaine. 

My love would find 

In your heart as kind 
A haven wherein to dwell. 

But what may be 

The welcome for me, 
Elaine dear, will you tell? 



46 



Music and Memory 



UNFINISHED THOUGHTS 

Unfinished thoughts, I fain would gather you 

Into a perfect whole, but you elude 

My spirit's grasp, though long and deep I brood, 
Waiting perchance if only one or two 
May still return, as homing pigeons do, 

Hoping in this calm, peaceful solitude, 

Cares cast aside and each disturbing mood, 
All these fair thoughts at last to ponder through. 

Unfinished thoughts, aye, fair and wise they seem, 
Dim like the glories of a vanished dream ; 
Glory and love and fame within their ken. 
They wait the hour of utterance. Ah, when? 
Here in the quiet cloister I will wait; 
Only such silence can unbar thought's gate. 



47 



Music and Memory 



SOUNDS 

I sit in my quiet watch-tower 

Hour by hour; 

And what do I hear? 

Only once in a while can I hear the sound of the 

wind 
As it tosses the curtains, whispering through the 

blind ; 
The ring of steel on steel 
As a new-made wheel 
Is forced on the axle, blow following swift on 

blow ; — 
Clang of the iron on the forge ; now the clanking of 

chains 
As the ice-wagon rushes up with its ice-bound rains ; 
The saw grating harsh on the ice; 
And then in a trice 
The call of the ice-man loud; 
Now a little crowd 
Of maidens playing a game 
Whose old-loved name 

Takes me back to the days when I romped too, 
As merry and gay 
As they; 
Now the stroke of the town-clock, count it slow, — 

one, — tw^o, — 
Three, — four, — how slow it goes 
Till eleven, the close ; 
And I think of the day half-done 
Which seemed just begun; 



48 



Music and Memory 



Hear the call of the hen and the hum of the locust 

shrill ; 
The patter of hoofs rushing by, — and nearer still 
The intimate talk of friends on the lawn is heard; 
Now the bark of a dog and the song of a gilt-caged 

bird. 

All these, as I sit here quiet in my lone watch-tower. 
Listening, hour by hour. 

And all seem so busy and gay, 

These sounds of the town; 

Would that I, as they, 

Were down 

Working glad in their midst, making my own voice 

heard, too. 
Let me leave my watch-tower,— swift, — there is 

work to do. 



49 



Music and Memory 



THE PATH OF THE STORM 

Higher and higher 

In mad desire, 

Wind of the storm-blast, rise! 

Sing to the North 

As you fare forth, 

That the end of your journey lies 

Where the Storm-king waits 

At his castle gates 

For the sound of your warlike cries. 

Haste, then, oh, haste 

O'er the rain-swept v^^aste 

In your chariot-clouds away! 

With triumphant song 

Sweep the heights along, 

Nor for gods nor mortals stay! 

For the powers of earth 

Are nothing worth 

To check your wild affray. 

Then shout and sing 

To your mighty king, 

While my heart is thrilled to hear! 

I fain would be 

Of your company, 

Ye winds without a peer. 

When your battle-song 

Rises loud and strong 

My heart is a wild Valkyr. 



50 



Music and Memory 



THE STORM WINDS 

What would ye, winds, that loud and long ye blow 
And rush in concourse mad along the sky? 
Is it to some great carnival ye hie, 

In palace vast of ice and gleaming snow"? 

Is it to find some cavern, dark and low, 

WTiere 5'^e may rest, your journey done, to lie 
At ease and leave the over-arching sky 

Cloudless and tranquil ? Tell me where ye go ! 

Here but a moment since, — now miles away. 
While still I hear the thunder of your feet ; 

And still a flurry white marks your affray; 

While still the trees are bent by your retreat; 

Shouting, triumphant, go ye on your way ; 

My heart would follow swift; but whither? Say! 



51 



Music and Memory 



THE VIKING-MAID 

Oh, a heart as wild as the wildest sea 

Was bom in me long ago, 
When a Viking-maid, so bold and free, 
I roamed over meadow and forest and lea, 
With never a care in the world for me, — 

A Viking of long ago. 

But it died one night and slept away 

The centuries until now; 
And now it beats in a different way, 
Though once and again it longs to stray 
And roam like a Viking, as today. 

Those days come back to me now. 



52 



Music and Memory 



SPRING RAIN 

Oh, patter wild rain 

'Gainst my window-pane! 

And sigh, sad breeze, 

Through the tall pine-trees! 

But my heart says " Nay," 

To the dreary day ; — 

For my heart is singing of love. 

Oh, frown and lower, 

With many a shower, 

Gray clouds wind-tossed, 

Like a spirit lost! 

I do not care. 

Be ye gray or fair ; — 

For my heart is singing of love. 



THE SONG 

When chill without the snowflakes fall so purely, 
And warm within the firelight flames securely. 
Ah, then, dear heart, I know full well and surely, 
I love you. 

Or when the fields are green with April's springing. 
And happy birds are hitherward swift winging. 
My heart too their glad song is blithely singing, 
I love you. 



52 



Music and Memory 



CHANSON 

Oh, my heart is singing so loud I'm sure you must 

hear 
Its gay lilting melody tuned to the song of the wind, 
Tuned to the rustling song of the murmuring 

breeze, 
And the frolicsome dance of the sunbeams through 

goldening leaves, 
And the scurrying, flurrying charge of the clouds 

as they rush 
To meet the bright Sun-god swift riding across the 

blue skies. 
Oh, the wind it may sing of its battles, the breezes 

of heaven, 
The sunbeams may sing of the summer, the clouds 

sing of rain, 
The birds sing of daffodils swaying in riotous glee. 
The trees in their singing sound forth a joyous re- 
frain. 
But the song of my heart is the sweetest, oh, listen, 

oh, hear! 
For the song of my heart is the love that it gives 

you, my dear. 



54 



Music and Memory 



DE AMICITIA 

REFLECTIONS OF CICERO's ESSAY 

I. Laelius Speaks 
II. Friendship 
III. The Search 



V 
laelius speaks 

He was my friend, what need of more to say? 

What greater name could I on him bestow ? 

Whose memory, all golden-bright, doth glow 
Within my heart to cheer the weary day ; 
For sad indeed were life with him away, 

Did I not surely, confidently know 

That soon I, too, would join him; happy so 
A little longer in this world to stay. 

Ah, he was greater far than I, yet deigned 
To share with me his greatness, loving me ; 

Bestowing all upon me, unrestrained ; 
And living, loving, planning mutually. 

The glory of true friendship well we knew. 

And may the gods grant one such friend to you. 



55 



Music and Memory 



II 



FRIENDSHIP 



You looked on me and straightway then I knew 
In that one glance a signal flashed, full-bright, 
A spark electric, swift to set alight 

Within my eyes a message clear to you ; 

You looked on me and like a magnet drew 
My glance to rush to yours, in eager flight; 
Surely I could not fail to read aright 

And pledge my love in answer clear and true. 

Thus do real friends each other strangely find, 
Just as I found you, without word or speech ; 

For such companionship of heart and mind 
Brings the content of trusting each in each; 

Never a doubt to mar nor troubled thought; 

Oneness of sympathy has friendship wrought. 

Ill 

THE SEARCH 

Up and down through the world I go 
Seeking, with all my heart aglow. 
Where shall I find 
What I have in mind, 
When I do not know 
If the gods bestow. 
Or some mad Fate 
Rules love and hate? 
Tell me, where shall I find? 
56 



Music and Memory 



To and fro through the world I went, 

Ever upon my quest intent. 

And what did I find? 

How strangely kind 

Is the Fate's decree, 

For you and me! 

For the kind Fate brought 

What I had sought; 

And I had no need to find. 

A friend I sought as I went my way; 

Nor any sign had I to say 

How I might prove 

His worth or love. 

But with never a doubt 

I chose him out, 

As the Fate one day 

Led him my way. 

And his love I need not prove. 

Wholly content I now rejoice, 

Though Fate decreed my unwitting choice; 

Full well I know 

That the gods bestow 

The gift of a friend; 

But they only send 

To those who yearn 

To be kind in turn ; 

Be a friend, have a friend, you know. 



57 



Music and Memory 



THE GREATEST OF THESE 

" Whoever lives true life will love true love " 

It cannot be unless your life shines true 
And steady as the burning Northern star, 
Unless your faith is strong enough to bar 

All unbelief and doubt from testing you; 

Unless you are of those, the happy few, 
Whose hope illumines the dark future, far 
Discerning things which seem from those which 
are, 

Whose pleasure is to will and then to do ; 

It cannot be, unless you have all these, 

Truth, faith, and hope to guide you on your way. 

That love, the greatest of life's verities, 

Will touch you with its golden, guiding ray; 

To shine upon your life, to heal and bless. 

To crown you with its perfect happiness. 



EVEN-SONG 

" Bless those whose hearts are knit to ours in love," 
Our Vesper prayer to Thee, great God, above, 
" And those who unto us have done aught wrong," 
At even-song. 

" Grant that the hearts that lift this prayer to Thee 
May undefiled and humble ever be ; 
In them wilt Thou, O Lord, at even-song 
Forgive the wrong." 
58 



Music and Memory 



THE VISION 

Why should I care that others fail to see 
The vision that I see and so judge ill 
The things I do, speaking the harsh word, till 

My eyes are blurred with tears that they should be 

So blind, poor ones, as ail-unwittingly 
By their dull scorn to spur me on, until 
My heart feels stronger, eager to fulfil, 

To meet its heaven-granted destiny. 

They had not scorned me, did they really know 
The glory of the vision, — foolish they ! 

Stumbling and halting on their path so low, 
While free among the stars I sing my way, 

Careless of what they think, if only true 

And clear my vision leads me on to do. 



59 



Music and Memory 



INSPIRATION 

'Tis good just to feel the blood tingle swift and 
glad, 

As the long thoughts urge, 

With a pulsing surge, 
To meet the task that the day brings. Oh! that I 
had 

A thousand days like this! 

How often I miss 
Just this magic flame of ambition, ardent, bright, 

To kindle with fire 

The heart's desire 
To meet the work of the day with my utmost might ! 

The course, aye, long; but the banner's beckoning 
gleam 
At the waiting goal 
Spurs thee on, my soul; 
While all the thoughts that men have dared to 
dream 
Are thine to seize. 
All earth's mysteries 
Of knowledge, of hope, of faith, and of brave good 
cheer. 
Live gladly then. 
Lest ne'er again 
This thrill and impulse to action strong appear. 



60 



Music and Memory 



DUTY 

The end of man is an action and not a thought. 
Carlyle. 

Not in the quiet cloister, 

Though thy thoughts reach up to God, 
But out in the world of action, 
Where the Son of Man has trod 
The path of truth and beauty, 
Fulfilling His whole duty. 

Not thought alone thy portion 

Though noble and high it be; 
Thine 'tis to toil and wrestle, 
Although in Gethsemane, 

With Him the sonship sharing 
In doing and in daring. 

Fare forth then to the battle! 
Be brave to essay the strife. 
Follow His royal banner. 
And win the crown of life. 
Doing thy appointed duty, 
Make a path of truth and beauty. 



6i 



Music and Memory 



THE CITADEL 

" Ideals are the flaming ramparts of the soul " 

A citadel thou dwellest in, my soul, 

Flung round with ramparts tall; 

Four-square its walls and four the towers strong, 

Lest danger thee befall. 

One tower strong is faith, one tower, hope, 
And one is earnest will. 
The fourth is love ; protectingly they stand 
To guard thee from all ill. 

The firm ideals of loyalty and truth 
There shine with steadfast light; 
And justice true and mercy flame afar 
To keep thee in the right. 

For just as fair Brunhilde was, of old. 
With magic fire pure, 
Guarded by Wotan from all earthly taint, 
So dost thou, too, secure 

Such safety from those blazing rampart fires. 
Those guardians of thy peace, 
That never through the years before thee still 
Shall their protection cease. 



62 



Music and Memory 



WORSHIP 

As our song rose to God through the fretted roof, 
So thine, little bird, through the branching trees; 
And where, canst tell ? shall we find the proof 
That thy song was poorer, that ours did please 
The God of us all, more sweet than thine ? 
For thy whole heart in thy song went forth 
To pour all its joy at God's great world-shrine. 
Was that gift of joy of lesser worth 
Than our weak song with world-thoughts dim. 
With world-care marring its melody. 
Mere lip-praise giving, alas! to Him 
Who gave to us love and joy so free? 

Ah, restless heart, if cathedral-spire, 
If organ-tone and vaulted aisle, 
Avail not to raise thy spirit higher, 
Then fare thee forth to the woods awhile. 
And learn of the birds the true joy-song, 
The spirit of worship, bestowing all 
Unto God, to whom thou, too, dost belong. 
And answer all self-forgetful His call 
To service, to duty, to thankful prayer. 
To loving communion, e'en face to face. 
And worship the God who dwelleth there. 
Regardless of time, of manner, of place, 
Beholding alone the spirit of those 
Who come to meet Him, in prayer and praise; 
And freely His blessing He bestows 
Alike on men, who their anthems raise. 
And on woodland birds, who sing all gay. 
His praise in forest and field today. 
63 



Music and Memory 



THE POET'S APOLOGY 

Things new and old, things common and things 
strange, 
Have met your notice, yet none quite like this: 
A little would-be poet, whom I wis 
You scarce would know, so do the swift years 

change 
The things familiar, known at closer range. 
For those made dim by distance. Aye, it is 
So wonderful that from the child we miss 
Should grow that which we do not know. Ex- 
change 
The present for the past, where would you be? 
What would you have, that you should be con- 
tent 
With all the past's gay, happy poesy, 

Nor deign to heed such humble voices sent 
With other message? Let me pray 5'our grace 
To grant to these my songs one little place. 



64 



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